PRIVATE MEDICAL LABORATORY

Definition:  A centre for investigation and diagnosis of medical disorders

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

PART A: Minimum Facilities

  1. Waiting Room/Reception Room of 12sq. metres with:
    • Sitting facilities
    • Registration table
    • Record keeping facilities
  1. Phlebotomy room of 3 sq. metres with:
    • Proper hand washing facilities
    • Waste disposal/ management
  1. Working areas with:
    • Adequate benches covered with formica for easy cleaning
    • Clean running water and sinks
    • Proper hand washing facilities in all sections of the Laboratory including the waiting room.
    • Adequate PPE
    • Wash collection

PART B: Disciplines to be covered

This will include at least two of the following:

Each discipline must have different work stations

  • Hematology; blood group serology, etc.
  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Bacteriology
  • Histopathology
  • Parasitology

Note: All blood for transfusion must be sent to Government approved screening centres for HIV, Hepatitis B & C, Syphilis and other screening procedures.

PART C: Equipment

Shall be comprehensive, functional and regularly serviced relevant to the discipline(s) being covered by the private medical laboratory such as:

  • Laboratory incubator
  • Bench Centrifuge
  • Micro-Haematocrit Machine
  • Electrophoresis Machine
  • Laboratory Autoclave
  • Binocular Microscope
  • Laboratory weighing Scale
  • Refrigerator and thermometer (strictly for requests and samples)
  • Water Bath etc.

PART D: Staff Complement

  • Medical Laboratory Scientist/Technologist registered with the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria with a minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience serves as the Operating Officer.
  • Medical Laboratory Technician/Assistant registered with the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria (and not a Science Laboratory Scientist or Technologist)
  • One Clerk/Receptionist (optional)
  • Other domestic and secretarial staff as needed by the facility.

PART E: Hand Washing Facilities

Proper hand washing facilities must be available in all sections of the Laboratory to facilitate frequent hand washing by the staff and patients.

Facilities to provide are:

  • Wash hand basin with clean running water
  • Liquid antiseptic soap in dispensing bottle with plunger
  • Disposable Serviettes
  • Liquid hand sanitizers
  • Hand dryers (optional)
  • Pedal bins
  • Hand washing poster

PART F:  Medical Waste Management

  • Registration with LAWMA Medical waste management is compulsory
  • Use of appropriate waste bins with cover in all sections of the facility
  • Use of appropriate colour coded bags for all medical waste disposal i.e.
    • Yellow
    • Red
    • Brown
    • Black
  • Use of safety boxes for all sharps
  • Creation of an appropriate and secure final waste collection point for all facility’s waste

PART G:  Public health facilities shall include

  • Adequate ventilation
  • Adequate illumination
  • Clean and adequate Water Supply –
    • pipe borne water
    • treated borehole
  • Washable floors preferably tiled
  • Covered and appropriate waste bins
  • Toilet facilities (W.C.) exclusive to the clinic.
  • Fire extinguisher and other safety gadgets with valid service records attached.
  • Muster point and valid fire certificate.

PART H: Power Supply

  • PHCN
  • Standby Generators
  • All initial equipment must be on a UPS
  • Inverter (Optional)